Who am I?

I’m a family man.

My family came to America seeking opportunity. My grandfather worked on the docks in New York City, so that his children could go to college.
My parents taught me to stand up for what was right, even if it wasn’t always popular.
I’m proud to be married to my wife Robin, and we have six beautiful children, four girls and two boys. We have taught our children that we should not wait for others to do what needs to be done. We have to build the communities we want.

I’m a small business manager and owner.

I have spent 30 years managing commercial print and copy centers, so I understand small business. I have also owned two small businesses. I understand the daily challenges of running a successful business, and what Government can do to help businesses and jobs grow.

I practice what I preach. I am a community man.

While living in South Florida, I was a Mayoral appointee to the City of Sunrise Recreation Advisory Board for five years. During that time, we oversaw the planning of a new state-of-the-art senior center, a new library complex and a new indoor sports facility. We were able to finance these major projects at no additional cost to tax payers. I was also Vice President of a homeowners association with over 4800 member families, and we commenced a landscape beautification project that was the envy of the city.

I have worked with large diverse communities and have built consensus between private and public interests. How did I do it? I listened. I respected those I worked with. I sought the common good. I shared ideas. And by getting people and groups to invest in and be proud of our communities, we improved the quality of life for everyone.

For the last two years, I have volunteered with the Humane Society of the United States National Disaster Animal Response Team.
With that group, I have gone to Joplin (MO) after the devastating tornado and to the Jersey Shore after super storm Sandy. I understand how Government resources and private/community organizations can work together to meet tremendous needs. It’s not magic. It’s about caring and being open to innovative cooperative approaches.

Why am I running?

I am running for Delegate in the 42nd District to represent YOU. We need change because some of our leaders in Richmond, including Dave Albo the incumbent Delegate from this district, have lost their focus. Instead of concentrating on vital issues like education, jobs, the environment, infrastructure and the economy, they are pushing agendas that damage our most vital assets. Instead of expanding rights and opportunities, they have worked hard to restrict them.
•The GOP-controlled House and Delegate Albo have worked to pass amendments that would abolish women’s reproductive rights and put their health in danger.
•Instead of creating an open supportive land of opportunity, they have worked to gerrymander districts and suppress the voters’ access to the polls, restrict workers’ rights, and weaken public education.
•They have underfunded and threatened pensions that our public employees have worked so hard to earn.

We live in fast-changing times. My opponent has been in the House of Delegates for 20 years. He is now a senior member of the leadership of that body. In that time, civility and competence that once distinguished Virginia have eroded terribly.

It is time for a change.

My Goals

opportunity, not limit it.

Education:

We are here today because our grandparents and parents invested in our education. If we want America to remain great, we must invest in the education our children and grandchildren will need in the global world of the 21st century. Math? Science? Yes, but also respect, communication and cooperation.

Every dollar spent in early childhood education saves four dollars in remedial education later.

Dave Albo has supported the scandalous underfunding of higher education, then has the nerve to complain that state institutions don’t have enough slots for qualified students.

You can’t have it both ways. We need to build a world-class educational system if we want to have world-class Commonwealth.

As your Delegate, education always will be one of my highest priorities.
My opponent, Dave Albo, and the current leadership of our House of Delegates seem to be believe that our system is about creating opportunities for a few while slamming the door on the rest of us.

He has been a leader in efforts to restrict the vote, deny women access to health care and criminalize people like my family who came to America seeking freedom and opportunity.

Dave Albo has been a leader to make life harder for hard-working honest immigrants.

Dave Albo has led efforts to restrict access to the vote.

Really? After the civil rights movement, constitutional amendments, and the growth of technology, we do not need to restrict access to voting. We need to expand it.

As your Delegate, my commitment to fairness and respect will underlie my action on every matter that comes before me. I want to expand opportunity, not limit it.
My opponent, Dave Albo, and the current leadership of our House of Delegates seem to be believe that our system is about creating opportunities for a few while slamming the door on the rest of us.

He has been a leader in efforts to restrict the vote, deny women access to health care and criminalize people like my family who came to America seeking freedom and opportunity.

Dave Albo has been a leader to make life harder for hard-working honest immigrants.

Dave Albo has led efforts to restrict access to the vote.

Really? After the civil rights movement, constitutional amendments, and the growth of technology, we do not need to restrict access to voting. We need to expand it.

As your Delegate, my commitment to fairness and respect will underlie my action on every matter that comes before me. I want to expand opportunity, not limit it.

The second major issue would be fighting for a Women's right to choose. This is an issue that is between a women and their significant other and her doctor. We must repeal the mandatory ultrasound bill and the TRAP regulations.

My DFA Values

First and foremost, I believe America is the land of opportunity. Fairness and respect for everyone is the foundation of trust on which Democratic communities are built. We don’t have to agree about everything, but we have to agree about this.

My opponent, Dave Albo, and the current leadership of our House of Delegates seem to be believe that our system is about creating opportunities for a few while slamming the door on the rest of us.

He has been a leader in efforts to restrict the vote, deny women access to health care and criminalize people like my family who came to America seeking freedom and opportunity.

Dave Albo has been a leader to make life harder for hard-working honest immigrants.

Dave Albo has led efforts to restrict access to the vote.

Really? After the civil rights movement, constitutional amendments, and the growth of technology, we do not need to restrict access to voting. We need to expand it.

As your Delegate, my commitment to fairness and respect will underlie my action on every matter that comes before me. I want to expand opportunity, not limit it.

My Campaign is People Powered!

We are currently setting up "Kitchen Cabinet" meetings with many different demographic groups. We want to listen to find out what is important to them, what issues are not being addressed. We have also contacted many former OFA volunteers to work the neighborhoods with us. Our first organizational meeting with them is May first and we are expecting approximately 60 people. We are also setting up teams in each of our 17 precincts to be able to contact people neighbor to neighbor.

Voice support

About the Endorsement Process

The driving force behind all DFA endorsements is our members. We recognize that all politics is local and that what is considered progressive in Los Angeles may be very different from what's considered progressive in Louisville. For this reason, DFA does not have a litmus test of specific progressive positions for which a candidate must stand. Our endorsement is heavily weighted based on these questions:

• Will the candidate move the progressive movement forward in their community?
• Does the candidate have substantial support from our local members?
• Do the candidate's positions and policies fit into the broader progressive movement?
• Is the campaign people-powered and the candidate working to win?

If you have questions, or want to let us know about a candidate in your neighborhood, please call us at (802) 651-3200 or email us at [email protected] .